After Primary, a Wary Alliance

Ocasio-Cortez, Among the Like-Minded, Touts Criminal Justice Reform

By JOSEPH KONIG

“It makes no difference if you voted for me or if you voted for my opponent,” Biaggi told the crowd, many of whom had attended an endorsement meeting earlier in the year where both candidates spoke. “What I’m excited to do is unite everybody and talk to you and to hear… what your concerns are.”

Inquiring Photographer: Raise the Age Takes Effect

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their thoughts on the newly passed Raised the Age measure that separates 16- and 17-year-old inmates from the adults and incarcerates them in detention centers instead of on Rikers Island, which is slated to close in 2027. From what I understand they’ve had 16- and 17-year-olds on Rikers Island for years without seeing a judge or anything. I myself had a family member who was in Rikers Island for smoking weed and he was there for years… for only a joint. They have to be housed somewhere. Any neighborhood you take them you’re going to

By JOSEPH KONIG

North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) will “absolutely” stay open for the foreseeable future, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz said during a “Newsmakers Q&A” roundtable discussion at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism on Sept 27. Katz said he planned on expanding services at the Norwood hospital. “If it’s going to be closed, it should be closed. If it’s going to be open, it should be open,” Katz said. “So now I’ve looked at it and we’re going to expand services to the North Central Bronx.” But New York City Health + Hospitals has not

Cops Search for Two Suspects in Separate Assault-Robbery Cases

A cell phone robbery and a daytime stabbing are what cops at the 52nd Precinct are tackling and in need of the public’s help. Police say a 45-year-old woman was robbed of her Samsung Note 8 cellphone at the East 205th Street D station while waiting for D train in Norwood on Sept 23, at 5:30 a.m. The victim was using her phone on a bench when a man she didn’t know approached and forcibly tried to strip the device from her. After the two briefly struggled, the robber took the phone and ran off heading towards the exit on

By JOSEPH KONIG

With just over a month before the general election, Democratic congressional candidate for the 14th District, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, co-hosted a town hall at Parkside Houses focusing on criminal justice reform. Ocasio-Cortez spoke on ending cash bail, closing Rikers, and ways to turn activism into governance alongside activists and community leaders. “I don’t want us to do what I believe happened in the aftermath of the Obama presidency,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We were like amazing, hope, change… he’s going to take care of it. It doesn’t work like that. We have to have each other’s backs.” The event was the first of a series of town halls she will host in the run-up to

In Bedford Park Preservation Campaign a Need Your Photos

By DAVID CRUZ

As developers far and wide continue eyeing Bedford Park for development, the Bedford Mosholu Community Association is utilizing a workaround strategy to ward further development. And Ella Santos, a vice president of the group needs an item that’ll serve as the lifeblood of the campaign: your photos. “They don’t have to be historical photographs. It could be current,” said Santos, speaking at the latest BMCA meeting Oct. 3. “Any old photos of you standing in front of your house, with friends.” BMCA is now applying to be placed on the Historic Districts Council’s (HDC) “Six to Celebrate” initiative which assists

Bedford Park Garage, Once Partially Collapsed, is Demolished

By DAVID CRUZ

A public garage in Bedford Park that partially collapsed in early 2017 has come down via demolition. A posted sign indicates the property will be converted into retail space, nixing the prospect of a garage once again. Owners plan to rebuild the space at 3000 Jerome Ave. just near Bedford Park Boulevard. Residents passing by the clear lot hope owners consider a parking lot. As it stands finding a spot can take upwards to an hour in the evening. The garage, once known as Dr. Parking Garage, had at one point charged customers an overnight rate of $11 for the

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers if they did everything they wanted to do this summer and what they look forward to (or not) with the cooler temperatures. I didn’t do anything this summer because I was in court and it was a disaster. I couldn’t swim because I had too many things on my mind. I had no barbecue, I had barbecue on the stove from the Chinese restaurant. I can feel it. I will stay here because I feel comfortable here. I will take it as it comes, I don’t think it will be that cold, but seasons do

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

A Norwood resident died in a hit-and-run accident on Sept 30 between Jerome Avenue and East 233rd Street, near the Major Deegan Expressway. Another Norwood resident has been charged with manslaughter in the driver’s death. Ramon Monteagudo, 59, of East 203rd Street was killed while driving his 1995 Toyota sedan northbound on Jerome Avenue when he collided with 24-year-old driver Collin Hedley, who was driving southbound and on the wrong side of the road, according to police. The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Hedley was traveling in the left lane and crossed over the double yellow lines onto the